At age 17, Steven intercepted drugs coming to his uncle’s pharmacy and thus began his drug use. “A new drug (benzodiazepines) was delivered to the drugstore. Within 5 minutes, I opened the bottle of Librium and took 2 pills. I didn’t take the 25 mg. tablets.... this was the only time I didn’t take the maximum dose. I loved the feeling. From age 17 to 56, there wasn’t a day I didn’t have a controlled substance in my system... benzos, amphetamines, pharmaceutical cocaine and other stimulants.”

With a self-deprecating tone, Steven described other people who abused drugs by saying, "I wasn't like them. I only used pharmaceuticals."